This blog does not endorse gambling. But if you’re looking to make some money and have the chance to bet on which Chicago Wolves skater is the first to take the ice for any given practice, you’d be wise to pick forward Adam Cracknell.

The Chicago Wolves open the Western Conference Semifinals against Toronto with Game 1 on Friday night and Game 2 on Saturday night at Allstate Arena. We open with this seemingly mundane paragraph because it gives away where Wolves assistant coach Scott Allen will sleep on Friday night: In the team’s locker room at Allstate Arena.

It’s one of the trickier questions in sports. And, really, life itself. How do you learn to hold on to those moments when you win and make them a part of your essence, yet teach yourself to discard those moments when you lose so they don’t cling to your being?

Jake Allen doesn’t change whether he’s in goal for the Chicago Wolves or talking about goaltending for the Wolves. He’s direct, intelligent and analytical --- and not afraid to discuss things honestly.